Tripping over the Truth: How the Metabolic Theory of Cancer Is Overturning One of Medicine's Most Entrenched Paradigms

This is a must read for those interested in cancer. The author uses a historical framework to explain the science, and makes a strong case for cancer as a metabolic disease (as contrasted to a genetic one). More importantly, cures are to come from studies of metabolism, rather than from narrowly targeted treatments aimed as particular mutations. The treatment is historical, telling the story through the great researchers and their findings, using their stories to explain the science. This makes the book very readable. Telling these stories is not necessary to understanding the science, but it may be necessary to understanding why, and when it was accepted. After running through various historical figures, such as Warburg (who got his Nobel prize for demonstrating the metabolic abnormality of cancer), the story moves to various interesting modern figures. By page 93, he reaches the research in Pedersen's lab at John Hopkins University, and the story of the bright Korean biochemist, Young He Ko. She discovers that a simple chemical, 3-bromopyruvate, kills cancer cells better and quicker than most chemotherapy drugs. She achieves the almost unprecedented feat of curing cancers in all of 19 rats, who remain free of their original cancers to the end of their natural life. One would expect to learn how she got a professorship, fame, and lots of research money. Instead, the academic politics at John Hopkins results in her being terminated, and a law suit, leaving the breakthrough unexploited. (Some believe that this will provide the plot for a movie, and speculate as to which actress should play Dr. Ko). For now, it just makes part of the book read like a novel. There is drama (starting on p. 109) when the father of a teenager near death from liver cancer hears of the new drug, and obtains approval for it to be administered in Germany (approved only because it was his only hope of evading his impending death). The unemployed biochemist travels there, and waits nervously while the first human receives it. He was being kept alive by tube feeding. There are no serious side effects, and he asks to eat. The outcome is that instead of not surviving to his 17th birthday as the doctor's predicted, he recovers enough to go to John Hopkins Medical school to lecture, reaches his 18th birthday (a party which the still unemployed Dr. Ko attends). Alas, he eventually dies from an unrelated pneumonia, but the drug had achieved a "miraculous" cure. Heart breaking drama here. The story then moves on to the cutting edge research on the genetics of cancer, and how when the genomes of various tumors were sequenced, there was found there was no pattern to the mutations, creating an embarrassment for those whose careers had been based on the genetic theory of cancer. Naturally those who had dedicated their career to cancer as a genetic disease were disappointed, and elaborate new theories, but several of the leaders have shifted their focus to metabolism. Although it is easy to say the hundreds of millions spend on genetic research was wasted, it was something that should have been done, and it appears we now know approaches that do not work. As a subplot (p152) is the story of James Watson (whose Nobel prize was for discovering the genetic code) and his shift from emphasis on genetics (which naturally served his self interest), to efforts to get the Ko formulation, and him expressing support for the metabolic theory (when famous geneticists abandon the genetic theory, it is more convincing). The story moves on to Dr. Seyfried (p. 167) and how he drifts into cancer research on discovering that starving mice slowed tumor growth, and a drug that seemed effective against cancer actually seemed to work by stopping the mice from eating as much (the control mice not given the drug died much quicker, but control mice restricted to eating only as much as the treated mice chose to eat, did just as well). This resulted in the publication of a path breaking book, The Metabolic Theory of Cancer. " While this is a very good book, and a must read for professional cancer researchers, the biochemistry is tough for non-professionals. For laymen, one can get an understanding from "Tripping over the Truth" with much less work. Even the professional may find that the historical narrative of this book makes it easier to understand Seyfried's book (Cancer as a Metabolic Disease: On the Origin, Management, and Prevention of Cancer), with much less work, and without being lost in the details. Such reader's may wish to skip the first two parts, which provide historical and scientific background). Christofferson's book is cheaper, slightly more up to date (in a field that is moving fast, partially due to Seyfried's recent book), and more fun to read. After reading Christoffer's account of how Seyfried came to write his book, and what he found, the professionals will be motivated to read the more technical book written by the great scientist himself. Dr. Seyfried explores ketones as the explanation for why calorie restriction works, and shows that a ketogenic diet can be effective (at least in mice). The story moves on to the history ketogenic diets, and to a Florida researcher, D'gostino (p.211), who gets good results in mice from such a diet, especially when combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Small scale human tests of ketogenic diets for brain cancers begin (p. 196) and produce encouraging results. Since many reading this review will be those suffering from cancer, what are the conclusions for such patients The first is the high potential of 3-bromopyruvate. Patients should not rush out and try to get this and treat themselves. If incorrectly formulated, it could be fatal. However, they should keep their eyes open for trials (which are overdue, but virtually certain to come). Those with advance, metastatic cancer should try to be included, even if this requires traveling overseas, and paying their own expenses. The preliminary evidence is that a ketogenic diet is beneficial, and the book includes an appendix on "Putting Metabolic Therapy to Work". If I was dying from cancer, I would certainly try this. What are the weak points in the book? One is that it lacks an index (so those interested in a particular topic can find it). Even the chapter headings and table of contents are non-informative. This is why I mentioned page numbers above. While it has a list of sources in the back, it is not as well documented as a researcher would want. Fortunately, more can be found in Seyfried's book. It is clear from the sources he gives, that much of his information derives from traveling around the country interviewing the researchers themselves. This permits him to provide the background that makes the book so readable (even novel like). A benefit of these interviews is that he sometimes mentions results that have not yet been written up and published. This could be valuable to researchers and funders wanting to know what is going on in a fast moving field. Those interested in the history and politics of science will enjoy the stories of the researchers, and how what should have been obvious leads and inconsistencies were not followed up on. It also becomes clear how problems of funding, human egos and ambitions, and desire not to confess to having wasting time on exploring a blind alley (even though this may keep others from wasting time by going down the same blind alley) has impeded research. Possible cures that are hard to make money from such as 3-bromopyruvate (a known chemical that cannot be patented) and nutritional approaches are not as promptly followed up on as those that can result in a highly profitable drug of marginal use (and he points just how marginal many of the hyped drugs are). Those in funding positions (government, foundations, and those with money to donate) would benefit from reading this book and thinking about the implications. Drug companies naturally would like funding decisions that lead to new drugs them to patent and market, and research that shows the utility of their products (and lobby for such). However, much higher returns should result from research private firms are unlikely to pursue, research on unpatentable molecules like 3-bromopyruvate, and nutritional therapies.

Thsi is for the audio book:I wish I had more time to write a very thorough review. But I have to say something and it is, "Wow!" For the first time I understand the evolution of the treatment of cancer and why it is so hard to do. Reading the book you can get a clear picture how treatment has gone off the rails and why. You get a deep look into all sides here: metabolic, genetic, radiation, and chemical. If this book lacks substance it is lacking in the answer of what can cure cancer -- because, believe me, that is still a huge problem.I know people take strong stances for and against straight AMA cancer treatment vs. so called alternative treatment. Bottom line is this: the cure for cancer through AMA chemo and radiation treatments is still only around 2.6% after 5 years. And, no link between genetics and cancer has ever been found. What about alternative treatments? I don't know of any numbers from research on that. I do know this: Not one person over the last 10 years that has done an alternative treatment that goes to my church has survived cancer. I know of no person that goes to a local M.D. that practices alternative cancer treatment that has lived 5 years.Maybe we should stop posturing and roll up our sleeves and look at the data and not the propaganda and public relations. We are being lied to by everybody about cancer. It is one scary disease.Now, not to leave you with a total bummer of a message, there is a strong ray of hope in this book. A successfully treated brain cancer was accomplished with (1) surgical removal of the tumor. (2) targeted chemo and radiation post surgery only, and (3) a cancer specific ketogenic diet. Ketogenic diets are coming up more and more as a possible cure to cancer. The naysayers will tell you that that is bunk because it is bunk that cancer is fed by glucose. Fortunately, this book will walk you through the research on glucose feeding of cancer and you will see that it is indeed fed by glucose.In fact, the author takes us deftly through so much actual research that you will be able to have a sane understanding of the current state of the art regarding cancer. As a nutritionist, I had little trouble understanding the content of this book, but I also think any reasonably intelligent person is going to have an easy time of it too. It is so well written that even complex biochemistry is explained in lucid yet succinct manner. I have to say that, in my experience, it is only those people that have a full grasp of their subject that are able to explain that subject to others in simple and complete terms. Bravo Mr. Christofferson!Narration was outstanding and enhanced the understadings available in this book.

Finally, a definitive answer to the mystery of cancer and potentially to the final path for a cure. It takes to task our antiquated, money driven by the pharmaceutical industry, system that refuses to allow a true cure to be found. Hamstringing our oncologists by limiting them to traditional chemotherapy approaches, it has crushed the metabolic theory of cancer treatment, its origins, and future cancer treatments through massive regulations, government overreach and the almighty dollar that Big Pharma will not give up. Imagine, cancer treatment that might run to a few thousand dollars versus hundreds of thousands of dollars yet providing many more years of life, to even including cures for stage 4 cancers - all with no availability to be employed because of those same onerous regs, mandatory testing - often of one chemo drug at a time - not allowing the medical team to even approach this program without severe risk of malpractice, suits etc. - even if great results are achieved. This book is it - from the first identification of cancer to today. It reads like a novel, a page turner. Give it to your oncologist. If he she refuses to entertain it - find another team.

Puisque cet ouvrage n’est pas un roman avec une chute, je suis tenté d’en évoquer les grandes lignes.À mon avis, les chercheurs, les médecins ainsi que les personnes qui sont confrontées au cancer devraient prendre connaissance de son contenu.Le livre parcourt l'histoire des 3 piliers thérapeutiques du cancer : chirurgie, radiothérapie et chimiothérapie. La chimiothérapie offre à priori un vaste champ de possibles. C'est l’hypothèse de la détérioration génétique de la cellule qui est communément retenue comme cause initiale et fondamentale de l'apparition des cancers. Alors, depuis 1960, inspirée par les travaux de James Watson et Francis Crick (Nobel - 1962), l'humanité lui consacre d'immenses moyens. La très récente élaboration du génome des cellules cancéreuses en est l’aboutissement. Le bilan inattendu de ces formidables recherches démontre la complexité extrême du tableau génétique de la maladie. C’est le choc. La tâche est incommensurable : vaincre le cancer consiste à remettre de l’ordre dans le chaos, l’aléatoire, dans ce qui semble être le fruit du hasard…Pourtant, au début du 20e siècle, Otto Warburg (Nobel - 1931) prétend que le cancer est fondamentalement causé par un dysfonctionnement systémique de la cellule : l'impossibilité pour les mitochondries endommagées d'exploiter l'oxydation comme moteur énergétique ; un processus secondaire très archaïque (quand les mitochondries « n’habitaient pas » encore dans les cellules) se met en marche, provoquant la détérioration de la cellule et de son ADN. Dans ce cas, le problème génétique est une conséquence plutôt qu’une cause.Des chercheurs isolés et peu financés n’ont jamais cessé de travailler sur l’hypothèse de Warburg.Mise en évidence dans ce livre, leur œuvre mérite une grande attention : elle contient les fondements de stratégies alternatives pour affronter le cancer.

Livro muito bem escrito, com detalhamento das grandes falhas na maneira atual de tratar o câncer (mas é o que temos até o momento, infelizmente) e abrindo novas perspectivas de um tratamento possivelmente mais efetivo, mais barato, e com menos dos terríveis efeitos colaterais.Uma leitura mais para "iniciados", ao meu ver, mas que pode ser entendido por todos, pela clareza na exposição.Tomara que estas previsões expostas se confirmem!

This may be the best book I have ever read about cancer. It is written in a pleasant way and is accessible to a person without great knowledge on the subject. Totally recommended!The author uses a historical framework to explain the science, and makes a strong case for cancer as a metabolic disease (as contrasted to a genetic one). It is utterly compelling and alarming only because it also shows how the medical community tends to ignore a case as strong as it is cancer as a metabolic disease and its possible treatments.I do not know if the author dares to read the amazon's comments but if he does, I would like to share that he has done a very good job!

Really interesting, well written read, covering historical aspects of cancer as a metabolic disease, with mention of key players. Good companion to Cancer as a Metabolic Disease.

I just finished reading 'Tripping Over the Truth' The Return of the Metabolic Theory of Cancer which illuminates a new and hopeful path to a cure by Travis Christofferson. I have also exchanged emails with two of the researchers mentioned in the book, Dr. Pete Pederson and Dr. Young Ko. While Dr. Pederson is still trapped in academia, Dr. Ko after 20 years of bucking big money, has broken out of her own to pursue this brilliant yet not highly profitable cancer cure. The concept is brilliant in its simplicity. The one thing that most (95%) of cancers have in common is that their cells switch from an oxygen based energy manufacturing process to one based on the fermentation of glucose. The cell slips into a self-preservation mechanism, cuts off communication and replicates prolifically. Involved in the process is the transformation of hexokinase into hexokinase II which allows the cell to make the ATP directly from glucose. The thing that Dr. Ko ([email protected]) has discover is that cancer cells allow 3BP (a lactic acid look alike molecule) to cross the cell membrane. She has found the Achilles heel/heal.Dr. Ko has a study approved in Poland with 12 patients and only needs $$$ to complete the clinical trial. I have pledged some money and I am trying to encourage others to crowd source (GoFundMe.com) the rest. Since this is something that the larger pharmaceutical companies are not interested in funding (3BP can be purchased at good chemical supply house) she is having to self-fund. This does not speak to prevention but at this stage we would all be quite happy with a cure.